Uncle Toby’s series founder Mike Porra is adamant the new summer surf program is revolutionary

THE man behind elite surf lifesaving’s dramatic “cereal wars” era 30 years ago has maintained that the sport’s revamped summer program is the biggest upheaval surf lifesaving has seen despite claims that the changes are nothing new.

THE man behind elite surf lifesaving’s dramatic “cereal wars” era 30 years ago has maintained that the sport’s revamped summer program is the biggest upheaval surf lifesaving has seen despite claims that the changes are nothing new.

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Retired ironman great Shannon Eckstein this week suggested that the introduction of the one-off, Iron X event might not provide the dramatic facelift the sport needed, comparing some new obstacle elements to his undertakings on television shows Australia’s Greatest Athlete and Deep Water.

Shannon Eckstein. Picture: Harvpix

“It has been done before,” Eckstein told the Bulletin.

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But Mike Porra, the brains behind the Uncle Toby’s series and the new-look summer surf series which includes the stand-alone Iron X race, is adamant that the format will revolutionise the sport.

“It’s never been close to happening before,” he said.

“Of the ten new things they’re going attempt, maybe seven of them they’ve never done before.

“The beach elements, none of them have ever been done by ironmen before.”

Porra said invitations for the live action, continuous race had been sent out last week and that spots had almost been filled though some athletes were reluctant to embrace the new format.

After spending months analysing adventure sports like the Cross-Fit Games in response to dwindling interest in the Nutri-Grain elite series, Porra believes that the fact athletes are resistant to change is because the Iron X race is completely revolutionary, quashing suggestions that the event is a rehash of the sport’s past.

The brains behind surf life saving’s new surf summer, Mike Porra.

“Most ironmen and women understand that changes are needed to re-engage the media and the sporting public,” he said.

“Without question, there are a few who don’t like it.

“Some don’t like change and that’s understandable because this is their profession.”

Porra believes that Iron X has the right ingredients to return the sport to its glory days, predicting a packed beach for the inaugural race at Mooloolaba on January 27.

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“We’re going to get back to the Uncle Toby’s days where we have thousands of people lining the beach,” he said.